It would be nice if the media would leave Roger and his family alone in their time of grief, but knowing people that hated him https://t.co/WQeJoD8pGi

Ailes left Fox News under a cloud of controversy last August. Ailes denied strongly the allegations.

At the time of Ailes’ his departure, Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of News Corp who would then take the reins of Fox, said, “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country … Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years.”

“Roger Ailes founded one of the most important and successful media outlets in American history,” said conservative radio host Laura Ingraham. “I will miss his friendship dearly.”

Ailes was born in Warren, Ohio, and attended Ohio University in Athens, where he majored in radio and television.

After graduating in 1962, he launched his career in black and white-era television by working for then-local personality Mike Douglas. When the show was syndicated a few years later, Ailes’ star rose with it.

It was during a 1967 appearance on The Mike Douglas Show that Ailes met future president Richard Nixon, who later tapped him to serve as his executive producer for television.

That experience began a decades-long dual track in which Ailes cast long shadows over both televsion and politics, culminating in his founding of Fox News.

In 1984, Ailes worked on President Reagan’s re-election campaign. Four years later, he was a key player in the successful presidential campaign of George H.W. Bush. helping to plot effective messaging and television advertising strategies.

He later helped build CNBC before Murdoch chose him to launch Fox News.

As recently at last fall’s election, and after his career at Fox had ended, Ailes reportedly advised President Trump in preparation for debates.

Ailes and Elizabeth were married in 1998. Their son son, Zachary, was born on New Year’s Day 2000.